Certainly! Let's balance the chemical equation where aqueous iron(III) chloride reacts with aqueous ammonium sulfide to produce aqueous ammonium chloride and solid iron(III) sulfide. Here is the step-by-step process:
### Step 1: Write the Unbalanced Chemical Equation
First, translate the chemical names into formulas based on the given description:
- Iron(III) chloride: FeCl₃
- Ammonium sulfide: (NH₄)₂S
- Ammonium chloride: NH₄Cl
- Iron(III) sulfide: Fe₂S₃
The unbalanced chemical equation is:
[tex]$
FeCl_3(aq) + (NH_4)_2S(aq) \rightarrow NH_4Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)
$[/tex]
### Step 2: Count the Atoms of Each Element
Always start by counting the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:
- Reactants:
- Fe: 1
- Cl: 3
- N: 2 (from 1 molecule of (NH₄)₂S)
- H: 8 (from 2 NH₄)
- S: 1
- Products:
- Fe: 2
- Cl: 1
- N: 1
- H: 4 (from 1 molecule of NH₄)
- S: 3
### Step 3: Balance the Equation
- Start with the element that appears in the least number of compounds on both sides. In this case, balance the iron (Fe) atoms first:
[tex]$\text{Reactants}: FeCl_3(aq) + (NH_4)_2S(aq)$[/tex]
[tex]$\text{Products}: \rightarrow 2(NH_4)Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)$[/tex]
- Next, balance the sulfur (S) atoms since iron is now balanced:
[tex]$\text{Reactants}: FeCl_3(aq) + 3(NH_4)_2S(aq)$[/tex]
[tex]$\text{Products}: \rightarrow 2(NH_4)Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)$[/tex]
- Then balance the nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H) atoms from ammonium chloride:
[tex]$\text{Reactants}: FeCl_3(aq) + 3(NH_4)_2S(aq)$[/tex]
[tex]$\text{Products}: \rightarrow 6NH_4Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)$[/tex]
- Finally, balance the chlorine (Cl) atoms:
[tex]$\text{Reactants}: 2FeCl_3(aq) + 3(NH_4)_2S(aq)$[/tex]
[tex]$\text{Products}: \rightarrow 6NH_4Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)$[/tex]
### Step 4: Verify the Balancing
- Reactants:
- Fe: 2
- Cl: 6 (from 2 FeCl₃)
- N: 6 (from 3 molecules of (NH₄)₂S, each contributing 2 N atoms)
- H: 24 (each NH₄ has 4 H atoms, so 3 molecules of (NH₄)₂S, 3*8=24)
- S: 3
- Products:
- Fe: 2
- Cl: 6 (6 from 6 molecules of NH₄Cl)
- N: 6 (6 from 6 molecules of NH₄)
- H: 24 (24 from 6 molecules of NH₄Cl)
- S: 3
The atoms on both sides are now balanced. Thus, the balanced chemical equation is:
[tex]$
2FeCl_3(aq) + 3(NH_4)_2S(aq) \rightarrow 6NH_4Cl(aq) + Fe_2S_3(s)
$[/tex]
